Spring structure



I SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 11, 1950 V V v gi d lfiwl oz Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CLEMENT W. SHOUP, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS SPRING COM- PANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN SPRING STRUCTURE Application filed January 11, 1930. Serial No. 420,230.

The invention relates to a spring structure, more especially the means for crimping U-channel members, including channel bars, stay clips and the like, to the body springs.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple, inexpensive and practical means for crimping and positively clamping channel members to the body springs in both seat and back cushion springs without bending or crimping the wire of the springs.

Heretofore straight crimps have been employed for this purpose, and in transportation and use where the straight crimp is employed, springs come out of the frames and out of clips and channel members, and the present invention is designed primarily to relieve the manufacturer of the trouble which has always been experienced in using the straight crimp.

The present invention resides primarily in an irregular crimp composed of a single deep central indentation or crimp at one side of the channel member, and a plurality of indentations or crimps at the other side of the channel member of less depth and greater length than the said single indentation and located at opposite sides of the same, said indentations or crimps constituting an irregular crimp having a positive locking action due to the central indentation or crimp, which makes it almost impossible to remove a spring or stay wire from the place of connection.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arragement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a spring structure for seats constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- 50 stantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

F ig.. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail edge view of one of the stay clips and a portion of a spring showing the irregular crimp. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a bottom border frame consisting of a continuous channel bar U-shaped in cross section and composed of upper and lower sides and a connecting portion or bend and forming a groove or channel to receive the lower convolution of the adjacent body springs 2.

The upper convolutions of the body springs are connected to a top border frame 3 of wire or other suitable material by means of channel clips 4 substantially U-shaped in cross section and composed of top and bottom sides and a connecting bend or portion and forming a channel to receive a top border frame and the top convolution of the adjacent body spring. The body springs are also connected by channel bars 5 which are U-shaped in cross section and composed of top and bottom sides and a connecting bend or portion and forming a channel to receive the adjacent convolutions of the body springs.

The channel bottom frame, the channel clips, and the channel bars constitute channel members for clamping convolutions of the body springs, and for holding bracing wires and the like in spring structures.

The sides of the channel members are crimped and thereby caused to clamp the body springsyan irregular crimp being provided at each clamped portion of a spring. The

irregular crimp consists of a single central deep indentation or crimp 6 formed in the lower side of the channel member, and a plurality of shallower indentations or crimps 7 formed in the upper side of the channel member and spaced apart to provide an interval or space opposite which is located the single indentation or crimp of the lower side. The longitudinal edges of the channel member diverge from each end of the irregular crimp. The irregular crimp, by reason ofthe single central deep indentation 6 and the spaced indentations 7, which are of less depth and greater length than the central indentation 6, is adapted to positively lock the wire of the body spring or stay wire so that there will be no liability of the spring or stay wire worka ing out of the channel member either in transit or during use. V

\Vhile the channel members illustrated in the accompanying drawings are shown in the form of a border frame, a connecting bar, and a stay clip, yet it will be readily understood that the channel member may be of any desired length and that the irregular crimp may be employed for engaging either the end or intermediate convolutions of the body 7 springs,v or a stay or bracing wire of a spring structure and may be used on both seat and back cushion springs.

' What is claimed is: a

A spring structure including a spring having an uncrimped attaching portion, and a channel member receiving the uncrimped attaching portion of the wire of the spring, said channel member being composed of sides and a connecting portion or bend'and forming a channel to receive the said uncrimped portion ofthe spring, said sides having an irregular crimp consisting of a single deep indentation or crimp formed in one of the sides and a plurality of spaced indentations or crimps formed in the other side of less depth andgreater length than the single deep indentation and cooperating with the same to form' a lock for clamping the said spring in the channelof the said member without the necessity 01": crimping the spring In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of January, 1930.

CLEMENT w. SHOUP. 

